My boyfriend and I were driving from Boston to California when we stopped at this little hotel the heart of the French quarter. It was so funny to walk into our room and see it laid out just like a typical Boston apartment/studio, because just earlier that day I told my boyfriend that I was homesick for our apartment in Boston. It was like being home again one last time.
My boyfriend chose this hotel because of its proximity to a closed parking garage-- we were traveling with a huge moving truck that was a heart attack and a half to deal with on the roads. When we got to the garage, they said we couldn't park there, even though we'd specifically planned everything out (the garage only specified that it needed a certain amount of clearance, which we fit under). Luckily, the nice concierge told us about the parking lot near the brewery, which was still open-air, but looked a lot safer than the kind of sketchy one down the street. I know that my boyfriend was nervous about the truck, and this little move from one lot to the definitely got him more sleep, so a big thanks to the concierge!
The location is perfect, walking distance to anything you'd want to do, from the Cafe Du Monde to Bourbon St. And even if you don't know what to do or where to eat, it's easy to find something good. After walking around, we dangled our feet in the beautiful pool/courtyard area. The nice concierge took our picture, and later showed us an old old old picture of the hotel/the street, which was really very cool to see. He was really great in a laid back sort of way, he wasn't trying too hard.
The only downside to the hotel was, yes, the noise issue. After reading the reviews, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be considering it was a Saturday night, but it was still very inconvenient. And the thing was, I think the people next door to us actually arrived at 2am, so they had no idea about the noise issues because no one else was up making noise. It might be a good idea to implement courtesy hours with the explanation that the courtyards echo and the walls are a little thin (actually, it wasn't the walls I think, it was more the fact that our room shared a door with the next room, making it very easy for noise to travel between them). I've been at other hotels that have done this, it's a nice, effective courtesy. Just a suggestion.
Another small suggestion: Having a light in the couch area. Since it's like a cave off the side, it was very dark at night. I loved that the T.V. was on a moveable arm though, you could watch T.V. on the bed or the couch!
The breakfast was good for on the go. I think they know that most people head out for some cafe au lait and the local food, but it was a nice option of little pastries and a hot beverage. I grabbed a coffee cake square for the road and it was very tasty.
Oh, one small thing, my boyfriend got really sick from drinking the water in our room. We came right after Hurricane Isaac had passed through, so maybe the area was under a temporary boil water warning, but no one had told us.
Overall, I loved this place. Even though I missed some sleep, it was definitely my favorite hotel of the entire road trip (well... staying at the Wigwam motel was pretty exciting too, maybe it's a tie) for comfort and a really homey feeling. Just thinking about our stay makes me happy.
- Also Known As:
- Ste Helene Hotel
- Hotel Ste Helene
Phone Number:
Region:
United States >
Louisiana >
New Orleans
Amenities:
Free Breakfast
Suites
Swimming Pool
Ranked #102 of 150 hotels in New Orleans
Price Range:
$$
Hotel Class:2.5 star (2.5*)
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
-
Hotel St. Helene is located on Chartres Street, right next door to the Napoleon House, a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The hotel’s location offers access to an abundance of popular attractions and world famous entertainment that the French Quarter has to offer, such as Café du Monde, the French Market, House of Blues, and Pat O’ Brien’s, which are all located within only one-half mile of this French Quarter gem! This beautifully restored hotel, just recently renovated and reopened in January 2012, is located in the heart of the French Quarter, only 2 blocks away from Bourbon Street, steps away from Jackson Square and the mighty Mississippi River. Our contemporary guest rooms and suites are complete with:-LCD flat screen TVs-Ebony stained hardwood floors-Wireless internet in guest rooms and public areas-300 thread-count linens & duvet covers-IPOD docking stations-All-marble bathrooms with standing showersOur French Quarter and Courtyard suites feature balconies which overlook the pool in the courtyard area or the historic French Quarter. All guest rooms are nicely equipped to give a feeling of being home away from home in one of the most historic cities in the world!
...
more
less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Travelocity, Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Cheap Tickets, BookIt.com, Hotwire, Amex, Olotels, EasyToBook, Priceline, Venere and Tingo so you can book your Hotel St. Helene reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
